A local transport authority may, if they consider it appropriate, decide to postpone the coming into operation of a partnership scheme or any part of it (such as the date by which a service standard must be met or facility provided) by such period as they think fit.

But the coming into operation of a partnership scheme, or any part of it, must not be postponed by a period or periods which in total exceed 12 months.

To postpone the coming into operation of a partnership scheme or any part of such a scheme, a local transport authority must comply with paragraphs 9 and 10 of schedule A1.

The Scottish Ministers may by regulations amend subsection (2) to specify a different total period of postponement than the one for the time being specified there.